How to Identify a Harper & Brothers / HarperCollins First Edition

Harper & Brothers — now HarperCollins — is the oldest continuously operating publisher in the United States, founded in 1817. The company has published Mark Twain, Herman Melville, the Brontë sisters (American editions), Harper Lee, and hundreds of other essential authors. Identifying Harper first editions requires understanding a complex corporate history that spans more than two centuries and multiple name changes, each with its own identification conventions.

Company History and Names

1817–1833: J. & J. Harper (founded by James and John Harper in New York)

1833–1962: Harper & Brothers (the classic era; this is the imprint on most collectible titles)

1962–1990: Harper & Row (after merger with Row, Peterson & Company)

1990–Present: HarperCollins (after News Corporation acquired Harper & Row and merged it with William Collins & Sons)

Each name change corresponds to a different identification system, and the company also includes important imprints like Harper Perennial, Harper Torchbooks, and Ecco.

First Edition Identification

Harper & Brothers Period (1817–1962)

This is the most important period for collectors and the most complex for identification.

Early period (1817–1890s): No consistent first edition identification system. Many important titles — including early Melville, early Twain — require bibliographic expertise and reference to published bibliographies. Key identifiers include:

• Date on title page matching the copyright date
• Absence of later printing notices
• Specific binding variants documented in bibliographies

Letter code system (c. 1912–1962): Harper used a letter-month code on the copyright page to indicate the month and year of printing. The format is a letter followed by a two-letter month code:

The first letter indicates the print run position:

• A = first printing
• B = second printing
• etc.

The month code follows: A-M (January–December, with I omitted). The year code is represented by other letter combinations.

In practice, you need to look for the code on the copyright page (usually at the bottom). If the first letter is “A” — it is a first printing.

The “FIRST EDITION” statement: Some Harper & Brothers titles also include the words “FIRST EDITION” on the copyright page, which is removed for subsequent printings.

Harper & Row Period (1962–1990)

Harper & Row used the words “FIRST EDITION” on the copyright page of first printings, which were removed for later printings. Additionally, a letter code system continued.

From the 1970s onward, number lines became more common: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

The lowest number indicates the printing (1 = first printing).

HarperCollins Period (1990–Present)

The modern identification system combines:

• “FIRST EDITION” statement on the copyright page
• Number line with “1” present

For example: FIRST EDITION 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Notable Harper First Editions

Herman Melville: Harper & Brothers published Melville’s works including Moby-Dick (1851 — the US first edition, published as Moby-Dick; or, The Whale; the UK edition from Bentley preceded it by about a month under the title The Whale).

Mark Twain: Harper published Twain’s later works, though many of his most important titles were published by others (Charles L. Webster & Co., American Publishing Company).

Harper Lee: To Kill a Mockingbird (1960) was published by J.B. Lippincott, not Harper. Lee’s Go Set a Watchman (2015) was published by HarperCollins.

Charlotte Brontë: Jane Eyre US first edition (1848) was published by Harper & Brothers.

Common Pitfalls

The letter code is easy to misread. The small letter codes on Harper & Brothers copyright pages can be difficult to locate and interpret. Consult reference guides for the specific code system in use during the period.

Harper & Brothers vs. Harper & Row. Make sure you are using the correct identification system for the correct corporate period.

Book club editions. Harper titles were widely distributed by book clubs. Check for the standard indicators: absence of price on jacket flap, blind stamping on rear board, lighter weight.

Quick Identification Summary